So "Mango" has started.
This morning at the traffic lights ("robots" in good South African English), I got handed a BP looking flyer with the website of our new SA LCC on it (www.flymango.com). This is the SAA originated LCC (i guess SAA vs Mango is like BA vs Kulula).
Anyway, I looked at the website. The website crew is clearly borrowed from SAA, the site is slow and pretty useless.
The introductory fares are good, a one way JNB/CPT from R196. I thought that would have to be before taxes and surcharges, but it looks like that is an 'all-in' fare which is pretty amazing.
I checked if the low SA fares (I travelled return CPT/JNB for R962 all in the other day ^ ) are still available, and they are. I guess SA will soon drop these.
Now we need to see how this whole thing pans out. Is there room for that many carriers on the main routes between JNB, CPT and DUR??

I finally was able to book at 23:45 on the first day of booking a pair of tickets at R 169 each all in CPT-JNB. I was already holding J class tickets for SAA which will cost me more - R 175 each - to cancel.

By and large, I find the LCCs in South Africa to be very unaggressive in pricing once they find their niche.

The change from SAA J to mango is truely surprising, but I guess you have your reasons.

More seriously, can you please post your experience once you have flown Mango? Would be of use to get first hand feedback.

Well, it's essentially the same plane and flight crew. It's a conveniently timed departure for me, only difference being my staying at a JNB airport hotel rather than the Road Lodge at CPT. If there's an operational problem, I just catch SAA, as ticketed, for my onward connection at JNB.

The bottom line : J class is R 2279 all in as compared to R 169. Multiply by 2 pax. Oh, the R 169 is less than the tax I would have to pay if these were "free" award tickets. R 4000 is a nice bit of change to keep.

Mango is a joke.

The best headline I have seen for a while was by the Business Report.

"Saa's Mango takes off". Now im not sure if that is intentional or not.

Finally my tax money is doing something, getting me cheaper airfares however I can seemyself not travelling mango as a matter of principle.

They have leased the aircraft from saa at 'preferential rates" and have a R100 million loan and will only be profitable in 2 years, what a joke I know friends who could make it profitable from day 1. Its sad and pathetic, I hope the others can weather the storm.

I'm surprised the Competitions Board hasn't had anything to say. There would seem to be a reasonable case to be made for destructive commercial practices. (Well, I'm surprised only if its head is not a political appointment.)

There was a debate on tv tonight but I was too tired and cynical to watch.

According to yesterday's Sunday Times, they checked with the competition board when the idea of starting Mango was conceived a year ago. From the article it appears (but I can't remember the detail) that what they told the competition board would have been OK, but also that the board is keeping a beady eye out for this.
On face value - a 100M preferential loan, leasing aircraft from SAA at probably below-market rates and omly break even in 2 years time - this situation is very fishy!

I don't follow debates on SATV as a rule: you just hear a bunch of politically inspired lies.

O.K., actually flew ManGO last night from CPT-JNB.

If the check-in girl had been properly informed I might have been informed that the 19:55 departure would be delayed and I would have used my J Class on SAA. As I was at the airport early I asked if I could be accomodated on the earlier ManGO flight but was rebuffed : "We don't do stand bys".

So, our 19:55 became the 21:30 and I got my bag off the carousel at 23:55 and made a mad dash to the hotel shuttle pick up area. 00:20, tucked in bed but I could have done without the stress.

Now for the flight : the check in girl blocked off the middle seat so that my son and I had window/aisle. Pitch is at a minimum ... if pax in front reclines : (un)civil unrest.

Food for purchase was good : R 20 for a large, filled and filling sandwich.
R 6 for a beverage.

If I had to pay R 500 or so, I'd choose a different carrier, like Nationwide.

The staff at the truly atrocious (for food) Sports Cafe at CPT told me that the previous night there had been a near riot for the ManGO flight. Apparently, some flights do not depart until the early hours but when a flight is cancelled, checked in pax are provided hotel accomodation.